How to check a name against the OFAC sanctions list

Last updated 2026-11-10 · Starry Night

Checking a customer, supplier or other party against U.S. sanctions lists is a name search followed, for every possible match, by a comparison of identifying details. This guide walks through both, using OFAC's own instructions.

1. Pick the search

• OFAC Sanctions List Search covers OFAC's lists: the SDN List and OFAC's non-SDN lists. One name per search.
• The Consolidated Screening List on trade.gov combines export screening lists from the Departments of Commerce, State and Treasury in one search. If you export, or your customers are abroad, it covers lists such as the Entity List that the OFAC search does not.
• Many U.S. businesses that trade internationally also check the UN, UK or EU lists that apply to their deals. See SDN List vs the Consolidated Screening List.

2. Enter the name the way the list might hold it

1. Search the full legal name, then any trade names, former names and the name in the party's own script if you have it.
2. For a company, also search its parent and its main owners. A company can be blocked without being listed; see the OFAC 50 Percent Rule.
3. Add the country or address when the search allows it, to narrow results.

3. Set how fuzzy the match is

OFAC's search page says the tool uses approximate string matching and has a slider that sets a confidence threshold (the Minimum Name Score). OFAC says it does not recommend a particular setting, and that the tool is not a substitute for appropriate due diligence. A lower threshold catches more spellings and returns more names to review.

4. Review every possible match

A hit is a question, not an answer. OFAC FAQ 5 sets out the steps: confirm the hit is on an OFAC list, open the complete list entry, and compare its details (aliases, dates of birth, nationality, ID and registration numbers, addresses) with what you know about your party. OFAC notes that many potential matches are false positives. The full method is in what to do with a possible OFAC match.

5. Keep a record

Write down what you searched, when, against which lists and versions, and how you resolved each possible match. OFAC FAQ 5 asks organizations to keep complete, accurate records of the steps taken to investigate a potential match. See what to keep on file.

Many names at once

The online searches take one name at a time. For a customer or supplier list, screen against the published data files instead.

Checking a few names while you work in Claude? The free Sanctions & Tariff Lookup connector screens a name from a chat and shows each possible match with its list, programs and identifiers. No sign-up with Starry Night is needed.

This guide explains public rules and OFAC guidance in plain English. It is not legal advice; for a decision about a specific party or transaction, talk to sanctions counsel or contact OFAC. Sanctions & Tariff Lookup is published by Starry Night and is not affiliated with OFAC, the Department of Commerce, the State Department, the UN, the UK government or the European Commission.

Questions

Is it free to search the OFAC list?

Yes. OFAC's Sanctions List Search and the trade.gov Consolidated Screening List search are free and need no account.

What minimum name score should I use in OFAC's search?

OFAC's search page says it does not recommend any particular confidence rating. Lower scores catch more spelling variants and produce more false positives; pick a setting as part of your own risk-based procedure and write it down.

Can I run OFAC's search tool automatically from my own software?

OFAC FAQ 287 says the Sanctions List Search tool should not be used by automated systems that run searches continually. For bulk or automated screening, OFAC points to its Sanctions List Service data files, which tools like this one mirror.